# Why Businesses Must Invest in Cloud Technology Now Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2020-10-30 Category: INVESTING Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/investing Meta Title: Maximising Returns: Cloud Management and Optimisation Tips Meta Description: Find out how Luke Mead, CEO of LMS Group, can help your business optimise cloud management and improve security with strategic insights on cyber security and URL: https://financedigest.com/why-businesses-must-invest-in-cloud-technology-nowhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/economy-recovery-9-1736838750880-compressed.jpg) _By **Luke Mead,** CEO of IT company [LMS Group](https://lms.group/), which he founded when he was just 15 years old. LMS Group is a Microsoft Gold and Cisco Select partner, runs telephony services for NHS health centres and has over 200 clients across the world. Luke, 29, is a keynote speaker on cyber security, business IT alignment, and technology in the workplace. In 2011, he was voted Sussex Young Business Person of the Year_ Your cloud [bill is one of your highest](https://www.financedigest.com/average-annual-uk-grocery-bill-highest-since-at-least-2008-industry-data.html "Average annual UK grocery bill highest since at least 2008 -industry data") business expenses after staff salaries so it’s important to make sure you are maximising returns. The first step to cloud [management](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-manage-identity-in-a-hybrid-cloud-environment.html "How to manage identity in a hybrid cloud environment") and optimization is to get the full picture of what your company is using as it’s impossible to optimize your cloud if you can’t see what is going on. Once you have better visibility you can evaluate whether your [current cloud](https://www.financedigest.com/cloud-communication-platform-market-2022-scope-of-current-and-future-industry-2030.html "Cloud Communication Platform Market 2022 | Scope of Current and Future Industry 2030") utilization supports your organisation’s goals. [Cloud technology](https://www.financedigest.com/cloud-professional-services-market-to-be-driven-by-technological-innovation-tmr.html "Cloud Professional Services Market to be Driven by Technological Innovation | TMR") means we have the power to work from anywhere but, in truth, no-one actually needs to work from ‘anywhere’. It often makes sense for businesses to put in place geographic controls which, for instance, make it so that only people in the countries where staff are located, can [access their systems](https://www.financedigest.com/telehealth-monitoring-to-rule-the-the-transseptal-access-systems-market.html "Telehealth monitoring to rule the The Transseptal Access Systems Market"). It’s also important to control user access and the [devices they use to login to your systems](https://www.financedigest.com/airway-clearance-devices-system-market-industry-analysis-opportunities-technology-demand-top-players-and-growth-forecast-2027.html "Airway Clearance Devices System Market Industry Analysis, Opportunities, Technology, Demand, Top Players and Growth Forecast 2027"). Multi-factor authentication is a [must](https://www.financedigest.com/psd2-merchants-must-regain-checkout-control-through-delegated-authentication.html "PSD2: Merchants Must Regain Checkout Control Through Delegated Authentication") for any business because basic password-only authentication provides no defence against sophisticated phishing attacks. **Why it’s worth the cost** While it’s easy to focus on the price tag of your cloud bill, it’s a better idea to ask yourself what the value of your cloud is, since this is what actually matters to your [business’s success](https://www.financedigest.com/why-seo-is-crucial-for-business-success-post-pandemic.html "Why SEO is crucial for business success post-pandemic"). Organisations often approach cloud operations from the wrong direction which ultimately results in [higher OpEx costs](https://www.financedigest.com/ds-smith-says-cardboard-box-volumes-strong-flags-higher-costs.html "DS Smith says cardboard box volumes strong; flags higher costs") with little value added. It’s entirely possible to create an office anywhere. It’s zero touch and everything can be accessed remotely, so onboarding [staff members](https://www.financedigest.com/gumgum-appoints-new-staff-members-across-germany.html "GumGum appoints new staff members across Germany") and adding new customers or suppliers can all be done without travel. It can also be very secure, when implemented correctly. However, many organisations are led to believe that [security is already in place when it is first set](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-russian-officials-set-for-security-talks-on-january-10-u-s-official.html "U.S., Russian officials set for security talks on January 10 – U.S. official") up, which is often not the case. **How to implement your cloud-based system** When [implementing a cloud-based system the best approach is to work](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-sees-more-work-ahead-to-implement-russian-oil-price-cap.html "EU sees more work ahead to implement Russian oil price cap") backwards starting with the goals in mind. ![Luke Mead](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/123456-450x739-1736838750636-compressed.jpg) Luke Mead Then consider what systems will best achieve those goals. Generally it’s best to keep it as simple as possible – everyone should will typically have one laptop and one mobile, and these are their sole devices and only they use them. You can allow personal devices (BYOD- Bring Your Own Device) to be used but, if these are unregulated and able to access [company systems](https://www.financedigest.com/healthcare-information-systems-market-2021-global-leading-companies-analysis-revenue-trends-and-forecasts-2027.html "Healthcare Information Systems Market 2021 Global Leading Companies Analysis, Revenue, Trends and Forecasts 2027") and data such as email, then you’ve got a potential breach on your hands. **How organizations unintentionally hinder their own cloud operations** It’s key you know where all of your [data is so that everyone in your team can access it and it can be kept safe](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-cloud-how-to-keep-your-data-safe.html "The Future of Cloud: How to Keep Your Data Safe"). Some businesses have [data siloed in a variety of places and this makes secure](https://www.financedigest.com/normalizing-advanced-cloud-data-security-with-normalyze-from-amer-deeba-and-ravi-ithal.html "Normalizing Advanced Cloud Data Security with Normalyze from Amer Deeba and Ravi Ithal") working from home harder and less manageable. Ideally, you want your staff members to be able to login once by using a single sign-on and then access everything they need from their device. Access to systems can be limited to working hours, location, [user and device](https://www.financedigest.com/signalling-device-market-competitive-growth-strategies-based-on-type-applications-end-user-and-region.html "Signalling Device Market Competitive Growth Strategies Based on Type, Applications, End User and Region") but only if this makes sense to the organisation. [Data is the new oil](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-eases-as-weak-asian-data-more-lockdowns-dampen-demand-hopes.html "Oil eases as weak Asian data, more lockdowns dampen demand hopes"), so make sure you know where you’re keeping your reserves and where your pipes are going. **Keeping your** [cloud systems secure](https://www.financedigest.com/dont-let-the-promises-of-virtual-desktop-security-cloud-your-judgement.html "Don’t let the promises of virtual desktop security cloud your judgement") [Cloud technology can be very secure](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-finance-how-to-defend-against-the-top-threats-to-cloud-security.html "The Future of Finance: How to defend against the top threats to cloud security"), as long as you have some key controls in place. For instance, all devices need to be registered and enrolled, so only company [approved devices and approved users can access the system](https://www.financedigest.com/portugal-approves-new-vetting-system-after-string-of-hiring-scandals.html "Portugal approves new vetting system after string of hiring scandals"). Also, limit the number of devices people use so they can only use one laptop and one mobile each. Location controls should be put in [place so only those in the UK can get in – this removes the threat](https://www.financedigest.com/is-the-next-big-cyber-threat-mis-placed-security-spending.html "Is the next big cyber threat mis-placed security spending?") of the majority of the world’s hackers. There are costs associated with [cyber security](https://www.financedigest.com/transport-operator-go-ahead-flags-cyber-security-breach.html "Transport operator Go-Ahead flags cyber security breach"), but they are usually manageable. However, the costs of a major [data breach](https://www.financedigest.com/outthink-raises-10-million-to-tackle-human-errors-behind-data-breaches.html "OutThink raises million to tackle human errors behind data breaches") or a ransomware attack, to both the finances of your business and your reputation, are not. Staff [working from home](https://www.financedigest.com/working-from-home-heres-how-you-can-save-money-on-your-auto-insurance.html "Working From Home? Here’s How You Can Save Money on Your Auto Insurance") are now being seen as soft targets, but they don’t have to be. Never compromise on security, develop clear policies, [spend what is necessary and keep](https://www.financedigest.com/cost-of-living-crisis-consumers-keep-spending-for-now.html "Cost of living crisis? Consumers keep spending for now") the hackers out. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---